Learn to Rotate Your Dart Board - How to and How Often
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Table of contents
1. WHY SHOULD YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD? 2. HOW TO ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD 2.1 Remove All Dart Board Accessories 2.2 Rotate Your Dart Board Based on How It's Mounted 2.3 Decide How Far & Which Direction to Rotate Your Dart Board 2.4 Replace All Dart Board Accessories 3. HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD? 3.1 Practicing Your Bullseye 4. WHEN CAN'T YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD? 4.1 Soft Tip Dart Boards 4.2 Non-Removable Number Rings 5. DOES BRAND MATTER WHEN YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD? 5.1 Winmau Xtreme Dart Board Stand 2 5.2 Winmau Edge Corner Bracket 5.3 Target MOD System 5.4 Unicorn Teknik 360 5.5 Unicorn Dart Board Wall Clamp 5.6 One80 Rotafix 6. MORE DART BOARD MAINTENANCE TIPS 7. FINAL THOUGHTS
Have you ever noticed how much wear and tear your dart board has despite owning it only for a short while? Seeing frayed fibers and loose threads coming out of your board? Close out of that checkout cart for a new dart board — there's a much better solution to making your board last longer.
Knowing how and when to rotate your dart board is an underrated practice that often goes neglected by many darts players. Although sisal is "self-healing", it cannot prevent or heal all damage done from repeatedly throwing darts at the same segments. Follow along to learn how to rotate your dart board in this blog, as well as some additional board maintenance tips at the very end!
WHY SHOULD YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD?
The goal of learning to rotate your dart board is to evenly distribute the wear and tear from your darts across the entire board so that you can prolong its lifespan. Certain sections of your steel tip dart board will get damaged quicker and more frequently than other sections of the board. When you rotate your dart board, you are spreading across the damage in areas that don't see as much action from your darts.
The 20 section, as an example, is a high-traffic segment that is often scored as the triple 20 earns the most amount of points. Because players will aim to score big with the triple 20, the 20 segment gets worn out faster from all the darts being thrown at it.
If you rotate your dart board 6 segments clockwise, the 8 — a lower traffic segment — becomes the 20 and the original 20 becomes the new 10. This transfers any future damage from throws at the 20 onto the original 8 segment, which is now in the 20 position.
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However, you can't really do much to reduce the damage dealt to the bullseye. Even if you rotate your dart board, the bullseye will always be in the center and therefore cannot distribute its wear to other areas of the board. It may be time to return to your checkout cart to buy a new board altogether if your bullseye is completely worn out and unplayable.
Keep in mind that you also cannot rotate a soft tip dart board due to the numbers being molded into the board design. Find out how to maintain your soft tip board and bullseye later in this blog!
HOW TO ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD
Learning how to rotate your dart board is really simple and can be done in just a few steps, depending on how your board is mounted. Here's our step-by-step guide on how to rotate your dart board below:
1. Remove All Dart Board Accessories
Before you rotate your dart board, you'll first need to remove any accessories on your steel tip board. While this step isn't necessary for all dart board accessories, it will certainly make your life a bit easier having them out of the way when you rotate your dart board.
The most crucial item you'll need to remove is the number ring. When you rotate your dart board without removing the number ring, the numbers on your board will not be in their proper places. You should be able to easily remove the ring from your dart board. Simply loosen any clips on the number ring or simply flex the metal ring until it pops off and safely put it aside for later.
Besides the number ring, you should also remove other accessories that are attached to your dart board. This includes dartboard lights that attach directly to your board like the Target Arc Light, Shot Stadium Light, the Winmau Polaris, and the Target Corona Light. If you use any for your board, remove your surround and board wedges (used to stabilize your board against the wall) as well.
Now you won't have to worry about any accessories falling off or getting in the way when you rotate your dart board!
2. Rotate Your Dart Board Based on How It's Mounted
How you rotate your dart board will be heavily dependent on how your steel tip dart board is mounted as it may require different instructions for proper rotation. Here are the most common mounting methods and how you should rotate your dart board accordingly:
Wall Mounted Dart Board
The default way of hanging up your dart board is by mounting it on the wall. Most, if not all, dart board boxes come with a metal U-shaped bracket that drills into the wall. A screw is drilled into the center of the back of your dart board, and then that screw lines up with the U-shaped bracket and slots in to hold up your dart board.
Because of how the U-shaped bracket and screw fit together, it's not easy to smoothly rotate your dart board while still hung on the wall. You'll need to take down your dart board from the wall, rotate it as desired, and then place it back onto the bracket in its new rotated position.
O Shaped Bracket
Darts technology has advanced past the traditional metal wall bracket with O shaped brackets, making it much easier to mount and rotate your dart board. O shaped brackets come with two pieces: a large bracket that mounts to the wall, and the O shaped puck that attaches to your steel tip dart board and slots into the bracket.
The O shaped bracket and puck system allows you to rotate your dart board while it is still mounted thanks to the signature O shape, providing a smooth surface for 360 degree rotation. Some brackets even offer a built-in rotation system, such as the Bulls Dartboard Click Fix Bracket. You can view the dart board brackets we have available on our website down below.
Note: Make sure not to purchase a U shaped bracket, which is meant for soft tip dartboards and not steel tip!
Dart Board Cabinet
How you rotate your dart board with a dart board cabinet will really depend on how you mounted it within the cabinet. Dart board cabinets that come with a provided dart board inside the package, like the Target Arc Cabinet, will usually have a metal wall bracket to install the board as if the cabinet were a regular wooden wall.
If you were to use a default metal bracket to mount your board in the cabinet, you would need to take down your dart board (not the entire cabinet) to rotate it, and then place it back into the cabinet. It's the same process to rotate your dart board as a regular wall mounted board.
You can rotate your dart board easily inside your dart board cabinet by opting for an O shaped bracket instead. Simply toss the metal bracket aside (or safely pack it away!) and follow the instructions from the section on O shaped brackets to rotate your steel tip board.
Dart Board Stand
Even dart board stands have different methods of mounting a dart board, just like dart board cabinets. You'll need to rotate your dart board on your stand depending, once again, on how it's mounted.
Dart board stands like the Winmau Vertex and the Winmau Xtreme 2 work similarly to wall mounted dart boards. Both have a fixed back panel that your steel tip dart board attaches to and cannot be rotated once hung up. You would need to dismount your board to properly rotate your dart board. This may prove inconvenient and difficult for some players, especially with frequent rotation.
The Gran Board Pole Stand and the Gran Darts Tripod Stand take advantage of the Gran Darts brackets to hang up the dart board and provide an easier setup. You can also rotate your dart board with the O shaped bracket and puck.
Note: If you purchase the Gran Board Pole Stand, you will need to replace the U shaped bracket in the box with an O shaped bracket before you rotate your dart board.
3. Decide How Far & Which Direction to Rotate Your Dart Board
A dart board is essentially like a wheel. You can turn a wheel in any way you want, however far you want. 180 degrees, counterclockwise, or clockwise. You can decide how you want to rotate your dart board, but once you choose a method you should stick with it to create a consistent distribution of wear on your board. Here's an example to help you visualize this concept:
Imagine it's your first time rotating your board. You turn it counterclockwise two segments, but then the next time you rotate your dart board, you turn it clockwise two segments to switch it up. The problem with this is that you essentially go back to the original position of your board, concentrating the wear in its original spots instead of evenly distributing it across the board.
Turning it clockwise or counterclockwise doesn't matter — what matters is that you pick a direction and always turn it that way when you rotate your dart board.
How far you rotate your dart board depends on your choice as well. Turning it 180 degrees may not be the best choice as the wear and tear won't be properly distributed, and turning it 360 degrees is the same as not turning it at all. Most players recommend you rotate your dart board anywhere between 2 to 6 segments each time. Turning your dart board "8 to 20" is another way of referring to rotating your dartboard 6 segments. Finally, make sure that your 20 segment is always on a black and red pie of the dart board.
4. Replace All Dart Board Accessories
After you rotate your dart board to your desired position, you can finally re-dress your dart board in its accessories. Start with the number ring, the most important accessory, making sure that the 20 is aligned with the top most segment. Then, you can replace any surrounds, dart board lights, etc. onto your setup.
HOW OFTEN SHOULD YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD?
Truthfully, there's no "right" answer to how often you should rotate your dart board. It really depends on how often you play and practice. A good rule of thumb for an ideal rotation schedule would be to rotate your dart board approximately every 4 hours of play if you're repeatedly throwing in the same general area. Many brands will include advice on how often to rotate your dart board as well, so check your dart board box or the brand website for those instructions.
You should also be mindful of a few factors that will affect how often you rotate your dart board. Aggressively gripped dart points will speed up the wear and tear of your steel tip dart board since the texture damages the sisal, so you should aim to rotate your board more often if you use those types of points. Cricket players will also generally wear out the bull faster than someone who predominately plays 01 games, since the bullseye is an important scoring area of the game.
Practicing Your Bullseye
You might be wondering how you should play darts without ruining your bullseye — after all, it cannot be pivoted when you rotate your dart board. Don't fret, and certainly don't avoid practicing your bull. There are simple changes you can make to your practice routine to prolong your bull.
If you want to practice your bullseye shooting, it is best to practice in the open pie of the 6 and 11 on either side of the bull as those are low traffic segments that can handle the wear and tear. They are also on the same level as the bull, making the 6 and 11 excellent practice targets for the bull. When you rotate your dart board, you'll redistribute the damage on those segments onto different parts of the board.
You can even use Red Dragon dart practice rings. a small metal keyring, a sticker, or a piece of tape to hone in on a small target on the board. This will train your accuracy without shooting the bull repeatedly and damaging it. These tips are excellent for any cricket darts player who finds themselves shooting for the bull quite frequently.
WHEN CAN'T YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD?
If you own a steel tip dart board, chances are you'll be able to rotate your dart board with little to no trouble. But, there are a few exceptions where you cannot rotate your dart board at all. If your dart board applies to any of these exceptions, you may need to maintain your board a different way.
Soft Tip Dart Boards
As mentioned previously in this blog, you cannot rotate your soft tip dart board regardless of model or brand. The numbers on a soft tip dart board are molded into the plastic dart board design, meaning that you can't remove them to rotate your dart board. However, like a steel tip dart board, your soft tip board can still get worn out... so now what?
Since you can't rotate your dart board, you can buy new replacement parts for the worn out segments in your soft tip board. Each brand has its own special replacement parts, so make sure to buy the parts that match your dart board.
Non-Removable Number Rings
Some cheaper, non-name brand steel tip dart boards will have non-removable number rings — instead, they are painted directly onto the bristle or paper material. You are only able to rotate your dart board if it has a removable number ring, so if you had a painted dart board, you would not be able to distribute the wear evenly across the board.
In this case, you would just have to bite the bullet and buy an entirely new dart board when yours is completely worn out. We would recommend purchasing a dart board with a removable number ring for your next board so you can easily rotate your dart board — plus, you'll save more money in the long run!
DOES BRAND MATTER WHEN YOU ROTATE YOUR DART BOARD?
Most dart boards on the market operate similarly and you can easily follow the steps above when it's time for you to rotate your dart board. However, some dart brands have proprietary features for their mounting systems that require extra care or may not immediately make it obvious how to rotate your dart board. Here are the brands you need to look out for with special dart board rotating instructions:
Winmau Xtreme Dart Board Stand 2
Of all dart board mounting systems available on our website, the Winmau Xtreme Stand 2 is the only stand we sell that makes it more difficult to rotate your dart board. The stand uses a unique 3-hole mounting bracket that requires you to drill 3 holes into your dart board to mount, compared to the traditional 1-hole bracket in wall mounted dart boards.
If you were to rotate your dart board with the Winmau Xtreme stand, you would need to drill new holes into your board every time. In the end, you'd have multiple holes in the back of your board. This doesn't really affect the longevity of your board, however, it is a hassle especially if you rotate your dart board frequently.
Winmau Edge Corner Bracket
The Winmau Edge Corner Bracket is a mounting system that allows you to hang your dart board in the corner of the room as if it were wall-mounted like normal. Because traditional wall mounted dart boards cannot be rotated while hung up, one might assume the same of the Winmau Corner Bracket. However, this mounting system actually offers the flexibility to rotate your dart board while it's still mounted onto the bracket!
The bar of the bracket is separated into two parts, held together by a red clamp, the "quick release". One part attaches to the corner bracket that drills into the conjoined walls, while the other part attaches to your dart board with a circular back board. When it's time to rotate your dart board, undo the quick release to loosen the part of the bar attached to your dart board, allowing you to freely rotate it without taking it down. Simply lock the red clamp once you're done rotating it!
Target MOD System
The Target MOD System is Target's ultimate home darts setup complete with tablet mounts, dart stands, a ring light, and the best part: a built-in mechanical rotation system! With the MOD Hub, the centerpiece of the entire system and the part that holds your steel tip board, you can rotate your dart board 10 times around without removing your dart board at all.
To rotate your dart board, pull the dart board towards you while it's mounted on the MOD Hub until it clears and then rotate it clockwise to your desired location. It's also designed to lock into place after indexing into the next rotated position so your board is at the perfect angle.
Note: You should only rotate your dart board clockwise with the MOD Hub as rotating it counterclockwise may unthread the bracket holding your dart board.
Rotate Your Dart Board | Target MOD System
In this video, Jen introduces the brand new MOD System. She gives you a full breakdown of the entire MOD system build, including instructions on how to properly rotate your dart board with the MOD at timestamp 2:46.
Unicorn Teknik 360
Similar to the O shaped bracket and puck, the Unicorn Teknik 360 uses a two-piece metal system, designed similarly to a car tire, to secure your dart board to the wall. One piece attaches to the back of your dartboard while the other is drilled into the wall, and they fasten together with strong magnets when you put your dart board up. Like the other two piece systems, you're still able to rotate your dart board with the Unicorn Teknik 360.
Thanks to the wheel design, you can even rotate your dart board while it is still mounted. The two-piece system feature indexed adjustments similar to the Target MOD system where your dart board will automatically lock in place at the ideal angle.
Unicorn Dart Board Wall Clamp
An alternative to wall mounting, the Unicorn Dart Board Wall Clamp completely avoids drilling any holes into the back of your dartboard with its three-leg clamp design. To install it, you just have to follow the included mounting instructions to fasten the clamp to the wall. Afterwards, you can adjust the legs to the size of your dart board and it should snugly and securely fit your board without the risk of it falling.
This system also allows you to easily rotate your dart board, as you would simply need to remove your board from the clamp, rotate your dart board to your desired position, and then place it back into the clamp.
One80 Rotafix
A similar product to the Unicorn Teknik 360 is the One80 Rotafix Dartboard Holder which functions nearly identically with two highly durable plastic pieces fitting together in one system. The wall plate is fashioned to the wall with 3 screws while the spring plate is drilled into the back of your dart board with a few more screws. Instead of connecting with magnets, the two pieces snap and click together for a secure fit. The two pieces also allow you to rotate your dart board while it is still mounted.
To rotate your dart board, you simply hold the edge of your board and rotate it clockwise to your desired position. There are little protrusions and divets in the Rotafix system that click and lock your board in its newly rotated position, similar to other mounting systems discussed in this blog. It's really that simple!
Rotate Your Dart Board | One80 Rotafix
Check out Darren's video review and installation guide for the One80 Rotafix Dartboard Holder above, found on his YouTube, Darts Review Channel.
MORE DART BOARD MAINTENANCE TIPS
Practicing proper dart board maintenance will make your board last longer and save you money in the long run. In addition to learning how to rotate your dart board, you should follow these 4 tips to maintain your board's health:
Keep your dart board dry. Store your board in a dry environment and use a dry cloth to clean any dust and debris, avoiding any liquids that will weaken the sisal fibers.
Use non-abrasive dart points. Textured points will tear up the sisal fiber and blunt points will damage the board and cause bounce outs. Make sure to sharpen your darts regularly.
Don't store your darts in your board. Storing your darts inside the your dart board will damage the sisal and warp it over time, leaving gaping holes where you stored your darts. Store it in the outer black ring instead, or opt for a dart stand, case, etc.
Rotate or twist your darts as you remove them from your board. This tip applies to both soft tip and steel tip darts. When you twist your darts instead of pulling them straight out, you lessen the stress on your dart board and cause less damage.
Rotate Your Dart Board | Retrieving Your Darts
In this video, Jen Mounts gives two simple tips that will help you safely retrieve your darts from your dart board. As a bonus, twisting out your darts when your turn is over will help maintain the longevity of your dart board.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Dart boards are a big investment. Whether you get your money's worth depends on your diligence in maintaining it. Learning how to rotate your dart board is just the first step in prolonging your board's lifespan, and we hope that this blog has helped you make that first step towards having a properly cared for dart board! Treat your dart board the way it deserves to be treated — like a king.
